Wat Khun Mueang Chai วัดขุนเมืองใจ
Wat Khun Mueang Chai is a large temple ruin located on the city island. It was once located beside Khlong Pratu Khao Pluak, but this canal has been filled in.
Wat Khun Mueang Chai consists of four primary structures: an ubosot, one vihara, a large stupa, and a two-story living quarters. Of these structures, the large stupa is probably the most breathtaking. The tall base of the stupa consists of several layers that support a bell-shaped body as a type of relic chamber. One layer is superimposed over another. This style of Thai architecture is known as "Yok Ket". On the southeastern side, a surviving corner chedi is still visible.
There are very few monasteries resembling Wat Khun Mueang Chai in Ayutthaya (Wat Ayodhya being one of them). This chedi has low walls above its indented base that are designed to look like balustrade walls. These still have some decorative stucco patterns intact - including a few niches where standing Buddha...
Wat Pradu Songtham วัดประดู่ทรงธรรม
This active monastery (Monastery of the Pradu Tree) is located off the city island in the northeastern part of the city.
Wat Pradu Songtham is situated in a part of the city known as Ayodhaya. It is widely believed that an ancient settlement existed here before King U-Thong established Ayutthaya in 1351.
As an active temple, Wat Pradu Songtham usual structures found at a Buddhist monastery. A sermon hall, bell tower,and monk’s quarters are in situ. Most of these are designed in a style reflecting the Bangkok period. The one structure that is missing is a chedi. It is assumed to have been destroyed over the years. The central feature of this monastery is its mural-decorated ordination hall.
The murals at Wat Pradu Songtham were painted in 1863. These have greatly deteriorated, but they still provide remarkable images of the lives of Buddha (Jataka) and Siamese culture during the Ayutthaya period. Scenes graphically depict Chinese acrobats, ...
Wat Hantra วัดหันตรา
It was also in the vicinity of Ban Hantra that Phraya Tak, later known as King Taksin, broke
through the Burmese encirclement at the end of 1766, in his escape to the south, after having encamped at Wat Phichai.
Account of the escape from the Thai chronicles, “As soon as it began to rain hard, forming an auspicious moment propitious for victory, the Phraya of Kamphæng Phet led the brigades of his army from the stockade at the Monastery of Victory and marched his army along toward the Village of the Division of the Seal. Just as it was getting dark the Burmese army managed to advance in pursuit and catch up with him, and they faced and fought each other in capable fashion. The Burmese army, being unable to withstand [his army], retreated and went back.”
Wat Hantra is located off the city island in the northeastern part of the city. This monastery can be very difficult to find by road because it is situated in a sparsely populated area with few landmarks around.
...
Wat Chang Yai วัดช้างใหญ่ or the Great Monastery of the Elephant is an active temple located off the city island in the northwestern area.
On site is an old ordination hall in the Early Ayutthaya style (1351 - 1491) and other more recent temple buildings. The ubosot has one elevated front porch with a single entry door - likely none in earlier times. Initially the hall had five square windows on the sides, but due to the bad condition of the building, two of them on each side have been filled, while at the same time the whole structure was fortified by installing concrete support beams around the hall.
The old hall has mural paintings from the Ratanakosin period, painted during the reign of
King Rama IV. The mural paintings are damaged and slowly fading away. There are also some traces of old faded paintings on the outside wall at the entry of the ubosot. The main Buddha image in the ordination hall is in U-Thong style, depicted in sitting posture and in the Bhumisparsa mudra also ...
